Crimson & Clover

Tongue Tied

Yukako's lips fell open in response to Josuke's confession. Her eyes, once angry, were now filled with confusion. He simply stared back deeply into her eyes. She noticed the pink glow on his cheeks and the sweat on his forehead that accompanied his worried expression. Her fists once gripped at his chest tightly, now grew limp. From the front to the back of her brain, Yukako looked for an answer to Josuke's confession. What was she supposed to say to that anyway?

Josuke brought the back of his hand to Yukako's face, allowing it to lightly brush her cheek. She remained still, locked in thought or his stare, he was unsure. He rested his hand in the crook of her neck and lowered his other hand from the middle of her back to her waist. Josuke could feel his stomach turning, but even so, he let his eyes flutter close as he leaned in close for a kiss.

Before she could react, she felt his lips on top of hers. Her body felt electrified, while her mind was running a mile a minute. What is he thinking? What about Koichi? W-what are we doing? What is going to happen now? What about Koichi? What about Koichi? What about Koichi— Finally, she snapped. Love Deluxe rose from its place and wrapped itself around Josuke's throat. His eyes flew open at the pressure on his neck to see Yukako's eyes glaring back at him.

"Y-Yukako!" Josuke choked. His hands flung to the hair tangled around his neck. He tried to wriggle his fingers underneath her grip. "Y-you're," he hacked. "Suffocating... me...!" With a swift motion she threw him against the wall. Josuke let out a loud yell when his back met the surface. He took shallow breaths as he held his freed throat in pain.

"How dare you!" Yukako screamed at him while her hair still towered over her head. "You're vile...!" Her voice had started as a yell, but trailed off into a whisper. Josuke looked up at her, once he heard the change in her voice. Yukako placed her hand over her lips as her hair slowly cascaded down around her. "Josuke..." Yukako spoke with glossy eyes. "I never want to speak to you ever again!" She turned on her heel and ran for the stairs, leaving behind glimmers of tears.

Josuke felt his stomach drop. Her denouncing their relationship or friendship, or whatever they had, felt worse than when she had her hair around his neck. "She's still dating Koichi. Why did I even think she would want to..." His thoughts trailed off as he stood up. His mind flashed back to her face and how quickly she had turned from furious to broken. He broke not only his trust to Koichi, but potentially ruined any friendship he could have had with Yukako. He rested his hand over his lips. "I guess I know how she feels about me now," he sighed. Josuke returned to Jotaro's room.

"That was quite the scene," Jotaro said without looking up from his textbook. Josuke frowned as he stood in front of the door. "Want to tell me what that was about?" He shut the book and met Josuke's sad eyes.

Josuke figured that telling Jotaro couldn't hurt, so he plopped down in front of the table again. "It all started last Friday when I was with the old man..."

"So you're in love with her—"

"Well, I'm not sure I love her or if I like her or—" Josuke piped up.

"Alright, you like her, but she's dating your friend, Koichi?"

"Basically... Yeah," Josuke said before taking a bite of his slice of pizza.

"Good grief." Jotaro took a puff from his cigarette.

"But, I've really fucked everything up now," Josuke spoke with his mouth full. The cheese stuck to his chin. "I kissed her, she kicked my ass, and then I made her cry." He finally swallowed and wiped the grease off his mouth. "Jotaro, I've never liked a girl before, I-I don't know what to do. I don't want her to hate me..." He stared down at his plate, then looked back at him. "What do I do?"